Thursday, September 14, 2000, updated at 23:54(GMT+8)
Sci-Edu
Chinese Physician Develops New Therapy for Drug Addicts
A physician in a military hospital in Chongqing has helped drug addicts kick their habit through blood dialysis therapy.
Dr. Peng Luomin found, accidentally, that a drug user who suffered from acute renal failure was able to get off drugs in the course of blood dialysis and ultrafiltration treatments.
Since then, Peng performed the blood dialysis on 105 drug addicts, the majority of whom were able to stay off drugs to varying degrees. Moreover, the patients suffered fewer and less severe withdrawal symptoms than those undergoing conventional treatment.
According to incomplete statistics, China has 680,000 drug users, 79 percent of whom are under age 35. By 1999, 224,000 drug users underwent compulsory drug treatment in 746 rehab centers.